2012 House Bill 5696

Revise fuel price posting rules (originally “sales tax on the difference”)

Introduced in the House

May 29, 2012

Introduced by Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-32)

To exempt from sales tax the value of a trade-in when buying a new motor vehicle or titled watercraft. The buyer would only pay sales tax on the difference between the value of the trade-in and the purchase price of the new car. The tax break would be phased in steps through 2015.

Referred to the Committee on Tax Policy

June 6, 2012

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

Sept. 27, 2012

Amendment offered by Rep. John Walsh (R-19)

To extend the bill to recreational vehicles.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bob Genetski (R-88)

To extend the tax break to a person who sells a used vehicle to one dealer and buys a new one from another dealer within 60 days.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 106 to 2 (details)

Received in the Senate

Sept. 27, 2012

Referred to the Committee on Finance

Nov. 29, 2012

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 12, 2012

Substitute offered

To strip out the "sales tax on the difference" provisions and make this a "vehicle" bill for new gas station price posting regulations.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 37 to 1 (details)

To require prices posted on gas station fuel pumps and roadside advertising to be the full price rather than a "cash discount" or other conditional price. If there are any conditions these would have to be posted in lettering at least half the size of the posted price. The "sales tax on the difference" provisions were removed to make this a "vehicle" bill for these new regulations.

Received in the House

Dec. 12, 2012